Safety mechanism for a torch

ABSTRACT

A safety mechanism for a torch includes an activating button movably received in the housing for engaging with one end of the lever to activate gas flow from the gas tank. The activating button has a partially truncated portion and two legs extending out in parallel. Each leg has a first step and a second step. A safety plate is selectively abutted against the partially truncated portion of the activating button and having an extension selectively corresponding to the first and the second steps so that movement of the activating button is controlled by the safety plate.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a safety mechanism, and moreparticularly to a safety mechanism for a torch. With the safetymechanism, the user is able to use the torch safely and unintendedignition of the torch is avoided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In the industrial field, torch is widely used to weld objects viawelding rod or to cut object. When using the torch, normally the workerhas an electrical igniter in front of the torch. With the sparks of theelectrical igniter, the torch is ignited. Then, the worker adjusts theadjusting knob to mix the air and the gas coming from a gas tank to areasonable ratio so that the worker is able to work with the torch toproceed with the or welding. Before ignited, the gas inside the torch isalready ready for ignition. That is, long before the torch is lit, thegas is running out of the torch, which is quite dangerous and harmful topeople nearby.

[0003] To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends toprovide an improved safety mechanism for a torch to mitigate and obviatethe aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide asafety mechanism for a torch. The safety mechanism ensures that onlywhen the torch is ignited, the gas is free to flow to support the flame.Furthermore, the safety mechanism has a stop movably received inside thetorch, with which the user is able to control the gas flow and thus theflame.

[0005] In order to accomplish the foregoing objective, the safetymechanism of the torch has a safety plate movably and partially receivedin the torch housing so as to selectively release the control of theactivating button. When the activating button is released, theactivating button is able to move to activate the flow of gas from a gastank and simultaneously activate the electrical igniter so that thetorch is safely activated. After activation, the torch further has astop movably received in the torch housing so as to be selectively moveto a position to hold a lever in position, wherein the pivotal movementof the lever turns on/off the gas flow. Therefore, when the torch isignited and one end of the lever is depressed by the activating button,the stop is moved to a position under the lever so as to hold the leverto allow the gas to continue to flow to support the flame of the torch.

[0006] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the inventionwill become more apparent from the following detailed description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the torch of the presentinvention;

[0008]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the safety mechanism ofthe present invention;

[0009]FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the torch in FIG. 1, wherein thefront cover of the torch housing is removed for a clear view;

[0010]FIG. 3A is an enlarged schematic view showing the relationshipbetween the activating button and the safety plate in a first mode;

[0011]FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the torch in FIG. 1, wherein thefront cover of the torch housing is removed for a clear view;

[0012]FIG. 4A is an enlarged schematic view showing the relationshipbetween the activating button and the safety plate in a second mode;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a side plan view of the torch in FIG. 1, wherein thefront cover of the torch housing is removed for a clear view;

[0014]FIG. 5A is an enlarged schematic view showing the movement of theactivating button allows the activating button to abut one end of thelever so as to free the control of gas in a gas tank;

[0015]FIG. 6 is a side plan view of the torch in FIG. 1, wherein thefront cover of the torch housing is removed for a clear view; and

[0016]FIG. 6A is an enlarged schematic view showing the stop is moved toa position under the other end of the lever to hold the lever inposition so as to allow the gas to flow out of the gas tank.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] With reference to FIG. 1, the torch constructed in accordancewith the present invention has a housing 1 and a gas tank 2. Anactivating button 3 is provided at the rear portion of the torch. Anadjusting rod 4 has a first end extending out of the housing 1 and asecond end connected to an outlet of the gas tank 2 to control the gasflow out of the gas tank 2.

[0018] With reference to FIG. 2, it is to be noted that the safetymechanism of the present invention includes an activating button 3, asafety plate 5 and a stop 6, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A. The activatingbutton 3 is cylindrical shape and has a partially truncated portion 31and two legs 32 extending out from the cylindrical activating button 3.The cylindrical activating button 3 has a first step 321 and a secondstep 322 formed on the leg 32. The first step 321 is inclined relativeto the second step 322. The activating button 3 is movably mounted atthe rear portion of the housing 1. The partially truncated portion 31 ofthe activating button 3 extends into the housing 1 and receives thereina spring 33. One end of the spring 33 abuts an electrical igniter 11inside the housing 1 and the other end of the spring 33 abuts thepartially truncated portion 31 so that the spring 33 is able to providea recovery force to the activating button 3 to allow the activatingbutton 3 to return to its original position after being moved. Thesafety plate 5 has an extension 51 extending out to selectivelycorrespond to the first and the second steps 321,322 of the activatingbutton 3 and a boss 52 extending down from the extension 51 to positiona secondary spring 53 which is compressibly received in the housing 1.Therefore, when the safety plate 5 and the activating button 3 isassembled in the rear portion of the torch, the extension 51 engages thefirst step 321 of the legs 32 of the cylindrical activating button 3.The stop 6 is securely yet movably received in the housing 1 and onedistal end of which extends out of the housing 1.

[0019] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 4A, when the safety plate 5 ispositioned in the track 12 in the rear portion of the housing 1 andpressed, the extension 51 slides from the first step 321 to the secondstep 322 and the secondary spring 53 is compressed. After the safetyplate 5 is pressed and the secondary spring 53 is compressed, the safetyplate 5 leaves the abutment to the partially truncated portion 31 andthe activating button 3 is unlocked so that the activating button 3 isable to be moved inward to the housing 1. When the activating button 3is moved, the bottom of the activating button 3 engages a lever 13 whichis on top of the gas tank 2 to control the gas flow out of the gas tank2. After the bottom of the activating button 3 engages the lever 13, thepivotal movement of the lever 13 turns on the gas flow from the gas tank2, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A.

[0020] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 6A, after the pivotal movement ofthe lever 13, the electrical igniter 11 is ignited. With the gas flowfrom the gas tank 2 and the sparks from the electrical igniter 11, thegas is ignited and the resulting flame is maintained as long as the gasflow is running. Meantime, if the user releases the force applied on theactivating button 3, the activating button will return to its originalposition and shuts the gas flow due to the lever 13 returning to itsoriginal position. Therefore, if the user wants to maintain the gas flowas well as the flame, the user will have to move the stop 6 to aposition under the lever 13 to stop the lever 13 returning back to itsoriginal position. Therefore, with the assistance of the stop 6, the gasflow continues to flow out of the gas tank 2 and the flame ismaintained. However, the moment when the activating button 3 is pushed,the safety plate 5 returns to its original position due to the recoveryforce from the secondary spring 53 so that the extension 51 abuts thefirst step 321 again and the partially truncated portion 31 of theactivating button 3 is again stopped.

[0021] With reference to FIG. 2, it is to be noted that the torch of thepresent invention further has a head 7 detachably mounted on a front endof the torch so that the torch is able to be used as a welding gun.

[0022] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the present invention have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrativeonly, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape,size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention tothe full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms inwhich the appended claims are expressed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A safety mechanism for a torch having a housingreceived therein an electrical igniter and a gas tank with a lever ontop of the gas tank to control gas outflow from the gas tank, the safetymechanism comprising: an activating button movably received in thehousing for engaging with one end of the lever to activate gas flow fromthe gas tank and having a partially truncated portion and two legsextending out in parallel, each leg having a first step and a secondstep; a safety plate selectively abutted against the partially truncatedportion of the activating button and having an extension selectivelycorresponding to the first and the second steps so that movement of theactivating button is controlled by the safety plate.
 2. The safetymechanism as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a spring providedwith a first end abutted the activating button and a second end adaptedto engage with the electrical igniter to provide a recovery force to theactivating button.
 3. The safety mechanism as claimed in claim 2,further comprising a boss formed on a bottom face of the extension tohold a secondary spring which is compressibly received between theextension and the housing to provide a recovery force to the safetyplate.
 4. The safety mechanism as claimed in claim 1, further comprisinga stop movably received in the housing to stop the lever from returningback to shut the gas flow.
 5. The safety mechanism as claimed in claim2, further comprising a stop movably received in the housing to stop thelever from returning back to shut the gas flow.
 6. The safety mechanismas claimed in claim 3, further comprising a stop movably received in thehousing to stop the lever from returning back to shut the gas flow. 7.The safety mechanism as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a headadapted to be detachably mounted on a front end of the torch so that thetorch is able to be used as a welding gun.